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Naw News SUBMARINE CUTAWAY FOR YOUR WALL
OVERSTRETCH OVERSTRETCH, which has tormented the Navy through much of this decade, is set to be eased by decisions announced in the Government's Strategic Defence Review.
Changes which will lighten the burden, include a rethink on tasking, and a Fleet reduction by three frigalcs <ind two submarines which, through redeployment of their crews, will help short-term gapping in the front-line. "Ministers arc determined lo tackle overstretch and unmanned complement billets, and so am 1," said the Firsl Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jock Slater. re flexil'k .ip[iro.idi 10 piogruniminj; ships
; shortly to introduce alternative u IT: in yells for iltployiiis; nitr di'Miivu.-iN nml frijMlL's
lo
S.nitli Mi.iiHK, Ihi \\L-M InJir, .iiul in Die Gulf.
STRATEGIC DEFENCE REVIEW: THE FACTS . in inilk I he overall effect on tin.- Meet programme.
The issues are e.spJiiiueil in ;m e\dusivu intcrvit" witli Navy News In the A^JMIIIH Chief of Hie Naval
Slalt'. RL-;II Admiral Jonathan Band (|i;iir IK). Other decisions w i l l -.(KTiLZilioii the RNR
by icn
the capability of ilic Uelena: ML-diial Services.
Much of the Review emphasises the need for greater force mobility with the growth and development of 'jointery' in almost all aspects of the business of Defence - including what is described as "a new operational concept for the Navy." The Review's aiiiL-liisions-entitled Modern Rirces for the Modem \\brlil-v. ill leMill in ncl smincs of" an (.-Mutinied 1(.S5 million hy 2 I M J I . as ilefence MVndi,ii: appro:idics £2.1 billion. The SDR map-
onl iliv ni.intiiHL' contribution to
joint operations in which the RN will play ;i key role
iduce I In- OVL-I \iK-idi imnlveil. while still
• Turn to page 19
- The shape of things to come? MAJOR force changes for the Royal Navy are centred on the confirmation by the Strategic Defence Review that the Service will receive two new carriers up to twice the size of the Invincible-class - and significant expansion of amphibious capability. Tins artists' impression of an early, baseline concept being considered as part of the Future Carrier Project, shows a vessel equipped with an axial flight deck combined with a 'ski-jump1 to facilitate the STOVL (short take-off and vertical landing} version of the ' ~ ihter. Propul would be by
for greater hang; below decks. Impression': alternative concepts appear, with details of projected new force levels, in page 19. The announcement that the Navy would revert to larger
Propulsion (IFEPJ achieved by four gas turbines mounted in the superstructure, allowing
strike role was predicted by Navy News even before the SDR got under way. The
receive tour roll-ot. transport ships in addition to RFAs Sea Centurion and Sea Chieftain which are being built at present. Overall force cuts include three frigates/destroyers and two S-class submarines.
YOUR GUIDE TO FESTIVAL OF THE SEA - p26-27 • WIN A CAMCORDER WITH JOKER JACK - p10